Wire-stretcher.



No. 636,63l. Patented Nov. 7, I899. w. CAMPBELL.

WIRE STRETGHEB.

(Application filed June 24, 1899.)

(No Model.)

fill nom g UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrce.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL, OF SANDYVILLE, WVEST VIRGINIA.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,631, dated November 7, 1899.

Application filed June 24, 1 8 9 9 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sand yville, in the county of Jackson and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire-stretchers, and has for its object to provide improved means for gripping the runner-wires of a fence, and is also adapted to have a fulcrumbearing upon the fence-post, so that the implement may be employed as a lever to obtain a tension upon the wire.

A further object is to provide means carried by the implement and adapted to engage the fence-post, so as to brace the device and hold the same after the wire has been stretched and until the latter has been secured to the post.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved implement, showing the same applied to a fence-post and holding a runner wire after the latter has been stretched. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the implement. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line a; 00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the pivot-bolt for connecting the members of the implement. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the handles or levers, showing thesame held together by a locking-link. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the jaws of the implement.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 and 2 designate, respectively, the handles or levers of the opposite members, each of the Serial No. 721,770. (No model.)

latter being provided with a laterally-offset jaw 3, which extends longitudinally beyond the end of the handle or lever and is provided at its outer extremity with a laterallydisposed spur or prong 4. The contiguous inner faces of these jaws are provided with suitable serrations or corrugations 5, so as to firmly grip the wire and prevent said jaws from slipping thereon. At the base of each jaw and contiguous to the inner face thereof there is provided a laterally-inclined notch 6, and the contiguous edges of the combined notches are adapted to form a wire-cutter in the common or usual manner.

The opposite members of the implement are'pivoted or hinged together by means of a pivot-bolt 7, which is provided with an enlarged eye or ring 8 and passes transversely through the bases of the respective jaws, as best indicated in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the eye or ring 8 forms a stop-shoulder, which engages against the outer face of one of the jaws, and a suitable nut 9 is fitted to the opposite projecting end of the bolt and bears against the outer face of the opposite jaw, whereby the pivot-bolt is held against accidental longitudinal displacement. Fitted loosely in the eye or ring 8 is a substantially U -shaped brace l0,which is preferably formed from a single length of metal bent intermediate of its ends into a loop 11, which is received in the eye or ring of the bolt, and the opposite ends of the brace are spread apart and formed into pointed arms 12. Inthe operation of the device the shank of the brace extends at substantially right angles to the plane of the jaws of the implement, and the sides of the yoke-shaped brace are located in a plane substantially parallel to that of the jaws and straddling the wire. The pivotbolt 7 is provided with a stop -shoulder 13, formed by means of opposite lugs made integral with the eye or ring 8 and projecting at opposite sides of the forward edge thereof. This stop-shoulder is adapted to limit the movement of the brace 10, as will be'hereinafter more fully described.

To hold the handles or levers after the jaws have been gripped upon a wire, there is provided a link 14, loosely embracing said handles or levers and slidable longitudinally thereon.

The rear end of one of the handles or levers is provided with a transverse shoulder 15, which projects at opposite sides and beyond the outer face of the handle or lever and is of a size to prevent the link from becoming accidentally displaced from the implement, it being understood that the handle or lever is comparatively flat, so as to prevent the turning of the link upon said handle.

In the operation of the device, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a runner-wire 16 is gripped transverselybetween the jaws 3 and the link 14 is moved longitudinally toward the pivotal connection of the handles 1 and 2, so as to hold the jaws firmly upon the wire. Then the prongs or spurs 4 are engaged with the post 17, the implement being disposed at substantially right angles to the wire, after which the rear end of the implement is forced laterally in the direction indicated by the arrow, whereby the wire may be drawn or stretched longitudinally. \Nhen the wire has been properly stretched, the pointed ends of the yoke-shaped brace 10 are thrown into engagement with the post and at opposite sides of the wireflthereby bracing the implement against the tension of the wire, so that the operator may conveniently drive the staple 18 or other fastening device into the post. In the operative position of the brace the loop 11 thereof engages the lugs 13, thereby supporting the brace in its proper position and preventing the same from being swung inward toward the jaws. These lugs also prevent the brace from accidentally swinging inward between the jaws when the latter are being applied to a wire.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the brace 10 is foldable alongside of the implement and away from the jaws, so that the latter are not obstructed by the brace and are free to be used as a pair of pincers.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A wire-stretching implement, comprising cooperating clamping-jaws for gripping the wire, handles or levers for operating the jaws, and a yoke-shaped brace loosely connected to one side of the implement, the shank of the brace extending at substantially right angles to the plane of the jaws, and the opposite sides of the yoke being located in a plane substantially parallel to that of the jaws, and straddling the wire, in the operation of the implement, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a wire-stretching implement, the combination with opposite members, each member comprising a jaw and an operating handle or lever, of a pivot-bolt connecting the members, and provided at one end with an enlarged eye or ring, and integral lugs projecting in opposite directions from one edge of the ring, and a yoke-shaped brace, having a loop loosely received within the eye or ring of the pivot'bolt, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In a wire-stretching implement, the combination with opposite members, each member comprising a jaw and an operating handle or lever, of a pivot-bolt for the members, and having an eye or ring at one end, and a yoke-shaped brace formed from a single length of metal bent intermediate of its ends into a loop, and oppositely-extending pointed arms, the loop of the brace being loosely received within the eye or ring of the pivot-bolt, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL. lVitnesses:

DELLA BAKER, MARY FABRY. 

